Computer fried during power surge

[molinator6]

Hi there,

This is my first time using this forums and I have a real issue. I built my mom a new computer to replace her old one (over a decade old) and it worked fantastic for the whole time that we had it. Last night we had severe storms and my house experienced a power surge. Unfortunately the surge protector that the computer was plugged didn't protect it, as now whenever we plug it in it creates an electrical arc and trips the breaker. I am unsure where to begin with troubleshooting this and I am looking for tips/advice. Would I be wrong in assuming that it is the power supply that is causing the issue here? Or do you think the whole computer is shot?

 

Specs-

 

CPU-https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIACVB5MB5403

Ram- https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232476

Motherboard- https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813144030

Graphics- https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131732

PSU- https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151201

Boot Drive- https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12K6U83608&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

Storage Drive- https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822179049&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-

 

Any advice would help.

 

[Firewrath9]

try new psu

[Electronics Wizardy]

Try a new psu first. You really have to start testing each part, and psu is probably shot.

[molinator6]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

Try a new psu first. You really have to start testing each part, and psu is probably shot.

Yeah this is what I was afraid of. Is there a way that you would recommend testing my parts without risking burning down my family's house?

[Firewrath9]

Just now, molinator6 said:

Yeah this is what I was afraid of. Is there a way that you would recommend testing my parts without risking burning down my family's house?

new higher quality surge protector + psu, if it still trips, contact electrician

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, molinator6 said:

Yeah this is what I was afraid of. Is there a way that you would recommend testing my parts without risking burning down my family's house?

I don't think fire is a big risk here. Id take the drive out if they have data that might be important.

[molinator6]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

I don't think fire is a big risk here. Id take the drive out if they have data that might be important.

 

Luckily I have all the data backed up on another drive

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, molinator6 said:

 

Luckily I have all the data backed up on another drive

do you have a working pc that you can swap parts with? Psu is almost certanly dead, the question is did it fry anything else, a good psu should protect the rest of the system.

[molinator6]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

do you have a working pc that you can swap parts with? Psu is almost certanly dead, the question is did it fry anything else, a good psu should protect the rest of the system.

Yeah I do, but hopefully I can get a replacement. Apparently lightning isnt covered by the warranty

[NickPickerWI]

I have questions.

 

Stop trying to turn on the PC, you may damage it further if it is damaged.

 

Did you see/hear the arc? Is it coming from the power supply?

 

If you can't verify this, are you using the same surge protector? If so, try running a vacuum cleaner on it on a different circuit.

 

If it trips that circuit's breaker, try running the vacuum on the same outlet you used to have the surge strip and PC plugged into, but without the surge strip.

 

This will rule out (a) the surge strip being shot, and (b) the house wiring being faulty. Older houses have terrible wire insulation, I have experienced it crapping the bed before during a storm while a load was on it. If you trip the breaker with the vacuum in the original outlet by itself, leave the breaker off and call an electrician.

If this doesn't solve anything, i.e. you don't experience any tripping with these methods, I would suggest trying a different power supply.

[molinator6]

4 minutes ago, NickPickerWI said:

I have questions.

 

Stop trying to turn on the PC, you may damage it further if it is damaged.

 

Did you see/hear the arc? Is it coming from the power supply?

 

If you can't verify this, are you using the same surge protector? If so, try running a vacuum cleaner on it on a different circuit.

 

If it trips that circuit's breaker, try running the vacuum on the same outlet you used to have the surge strip and PC plugged into, but without the surge strip.

 

This will rule out (a) the surge strip being shot, and (b) the house wiring being faulty. Older houses have terrible wire insulation, I have experienced it crapping the bed before during a storm while a load was on it. If you trip the breaker with the vacuum in the original outlet by itself, leave the breaker off and call an electrician.

If this doesn't solve anything, i.e. you don't experience any tripping with these methods, I would suggest trying a different power supply.

 

Yeah its not the same surge protector, the old one was shot. Other items run fine off of the plugs. Our house is only 15 years old so the wiring shouldn't be horrible (idk because I was young then). Ill try the vacuum though.

[NickPickerWI]

1 minute ago, molinator6 said:

Yeah its not the same surge protector, the old one was shot. Other items run fine off of the plugs. Our house is only 15 years old so the wiring shouldn't be horrible (idk because I was young then). Ill try the vacuum though.

Another thing to do before getting the new power supply, if you've nailed down that the outlet is good, is to unplug the cables from the power supply from both the power supply (I believe that PSU is modular IIRC) and from the motherboard. Inspect the cables, the sockets on the power supply (including the input socket), and the sockets on the motherboard for evidence of burning. You may see melted or burnt cable ends as well.

 

I had a Dell with a PSU that gave up the ghost, and I could see charring between a few of the pins on the motherboard 24-pin connector socket. That in specific is a sign of the motherboard being shot as well, and the whole reason I got into building PC's (try buying replacement parts for a Dell and see how much they cost).

[NickPickerWI]

19 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

do you have a working pc that you can swap parts with? Psu is almost certanly dead, the question is did it fry anything else, a good psu should protect the rest of the system.

That PSU should be good enough to prevent downstream failures. It's a great little PSU.

[Duckster]

46 minutes ago, molinator6 said:

 

Yeah its not the same surge protector, the old one was shot. Other items run fine off of the plugs. Our house is only 15 years old so the wiring shouldn't be horrible (idk because I was young then). Ill try the vacuum though.

Could you please show us the model of the surge protector?

[aisle9]

1 hour ago, molinator6 said:

Hi there,

This is my first time using this forums and I have a real issue. I built my mom a new computer to replace her old one (over a decade old) and it worked fantastic for the whole time that we had it. Last night we had severe storms and my house experienced a power surge. Unfortunately the surge protector that the computer was plugged didn't protect it, as now whenever we plug it in it creates an electrical arc and trips the breaker. I am unsure where to begin with troubleshooting this and I am looking for tips/advice. Would I be wrong in assuming that it is the power supply that is causing the issue here? Or do you think the whole computer is shot?

Are you sure you actually had a surge protector in there and not just a power strip? Are you also sure that the power surge didn't happen because your house was hit by lightning? Most lightning strikes on houses don't involve the whole thing burning to the ground, but they do thrash the wiring to the point where the thing burning to the ground later is possible if it isn't checked.

 

Also, the age of a house does not correspond to the quality of its wiring. The quality of the wiring is based on the skill and number of shits given by the lowest-bidding contractor that the building is using to install the most dangerous part of any house. My old house was less than 20 years old, yet somehow tripping the GFCI in the bathroom would kill power to a different bathroom on the ass end of the house from it.

[Wh0_Am_1]

Honestly I am sorry to say, but at this point I would recommend just starting from scratch, (except for the storage you need to get important data off that, and then toss it) as if you fail to replace any damaged components, esp. the MOBO, CPU, GPU, it would not be that difficult for the damage to spread, like for instance the MOBO is dying, it sends pulses of power to the GPU, CPU, and/or RAM frying them. Or, the GPU got damaged, it pulls way to much power from the MOBO killing it or sends back pulses of power, the CPU and MOBO take damage the MOBO pulses whilst the CPU draws too much power and kills the RAM and other parts of the MOBO, spreading to the GPU. In the end I would start from scratch and then purchase a power filter to prevent this from happening again. 

[191x7]

Also, the power surge might have come through the telephone line through the router through the network - in that case you might be looking at a dead motherboard if not any other parts.

[lordoftime79]

Id try my luck with a new PSU and take it from there - if anything else is damaged it will most likely either not turn on or turn on and greet you with a black screen.

[molinator6]

Update-

 

I got a new PSU as apparently my warranty didn't cover power surges. It plugs in fine, as in there is no electrical arc or fire or anything. Only issue is that now nothing happens when I press the power button. I fear that the motherboard is fried, and possibly other components as well. Might try and replace the CMOS battery and see if that fixes it, but I doubt that is it.

[molinator6]

Final Update-

 

Replaced the motherboard as well. Fortunately it actually works as if it is brand new. CPU, RAM, and GPU are totally ok. Wheh.